# bate

> English word · Verb · IPA /beɪt/ · frequency rank #38,748

## Definitions
1. To reduce the force of something; to abate.
2. To restrain, usually with the sense of being in anticipation
3. To cut off, remove, take away.
4. To leave out, except, bar.
5. To waste away.
6. To deprive of.
7. To lessen by retrenching, deducting, or reducing; to abate; to beat down; to lower.
8. To allow by way of abatement or deduction.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English baten (“to abate”), an apheretic form of abaten, from Old French abatre (“to knock down”).

## Easily confused with
- **be** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-be)
- **Bt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bt)
- **but** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-but)
- **bit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bit)
- **bet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bet)
- **bay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bay)
- **bye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bye)
- **bee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bee)
- **BTW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-btw)
- **bot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bot)
- **BTC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-btc)
- **BTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bts)
- **BCE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bce)
- **Boe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-boe)
- **baz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-baz)
- **BMT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bmt)
- **BTU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-btu)
- **BLE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-ble)
- **Bau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-bau)
- **both** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bate-vs-both)

## Common misspellings (4)
`abte`, `batte`, `bbate`, `btae`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bate